Attorney General James Uthmeier announced arrests in a large-scale drug trafficking operation that spanned Palm Beach and Broward counties. The investigation, called “Operation Trackside,” led to the seizure of over 5 kilograms of narcotics, $450,000 in cash, firearms, vehicles, and a boat.
“Drug traffickers who push poison like cocaine and fentanyl into our communities are profiting off the death of Floridians,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “In Florida, the consequences are simple—if you buy or sell illicit drugs, our Statewide Prosecutors will ensure you spend a long time behind bars.”
The 14-month investigation was led by the Boynton Beach Police Department with assistance from multiple agencies including the U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Boca Raton Police Department, Delray Beach Police Department, West Palm Beach Police Department, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution.
Law enforcement executed fifteen search warrants on September 3 as part of coordinated efforts across several agencies. These searches resulted in the confiscation of six handguns, two semi-automatic rifles, eleven vehicles, one boat, more than five kilograms of narcotics (5,027 grams), and over $452,000 in cash.
The Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is bringing charges against approximately two dozen individuals associated with this organization. Seventeen defendants face conspiracy to traffic cocaine charges; others are charged with trafficking fentanyl or oxycodone and related offenses. Five suspects remain at large.
Among those arrested are Garett Deshawn Sutton Jr., Antonio Robinson, Kira Ezra Jones II, Tarik Anthony Jarrett, Ion Miksa, Darnel Durand Manuel, Nicholas Matheney, Michael Vantez Hunter Jr., James Edward Anderson, Fred Ellis Robinson, Amber Micara Greermoore, Carlton Van Potts, Timothy Daniels, Kira Ezra Jones (listed twice), Alberto Cruz Jr., Christopher Daniel Jordan, Hayward McQueen; Bobby Young and Brian Cannon face conspiracy charges as well as possession with intent to sell for Cannon.
The case received support from the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) program which provides funding for statewide anti-fentanyl initiatives.
Florida has also taken other steps to address opioid abuse. Through programs such as Florida’s Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) Network—the first comprehensive statewide opioid recovery network in the country—the state aims to break cycles of addiction by offering treatment options including medication-assisted therapy and connecting people to long-term recovery resources. In addition to these efforts,
Florida has enacted stricter penalties for fentanyl trafficking convictions that include mandatory minimum sentences and fines based on quantity involved.
Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Kristi Howe will prosecute the case.
